Notices
991 2012-2019
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Should Rotors be cleaned? Drums?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-14-2018, 04:11 PM
  #1  
kage65
Racer
Thread Starter
 
kage65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 452
Received 35 Likes on 21 Posts
Default Should Rotors be cleaned? Drums?

Are rotors supposed to be cleaned at all? What about the inside of the wheel ( drums) ? Tks
Old 10-14-2018, 04:18 PM
  #2  
koala
Three Wheelin'
 
koala's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 1,864
Received 539 Likes on 315 Posts
Default

Rotors? They get cleaned every time you brake.

Wheel barrels? Yes. Best low-maintenance way is to clean them up really well and then ceramic coat the barrel (and the wheel face) so that they wash off easily in the future.
Old 10-14-2018, 04:18 PM
  #3  
Psorcery
Banned
 
Psorcery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,824
Likes: 0
Received 171 Likes on 127 Posts
Default

I bought a huge jug of Sonax wheel cleaner which I use to soak the wheel, rotors and calipers. I also used a brush to swirl everything around and get into the small nooks/crannies.

I personally dont believe the rotors are necessary to wash the way I do.
Old 10-14-2018, 10:30 PM
  #4  
okbarnett
Drifting
 
okbarnett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: tampa
Posts: 2,344
Likes: 0
Received 49 Likes on 39 Posts
Default

yes, you should wash out all the brakes and suspension parts. Take wheels off, wash everything and dry with air
Old 10-15-2018, 07:46 AM
  #5  
LexVan
Banned
 
LexVan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicagoland Area
Posts: 26,141
Likes: 0
Received 5,410 Likes on 2,516 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by kage65
Are rotors supposed to be cleaned at all? What about the inside of the wheel ( drums) ? Tks
Yes, and yes.

I use a MasterBlaster. First, I blow out the rotors and calipers while everything is dry. After the dust clears, , I wash everthing with just car soap and water (a properly coated wheel [RejeX Wax or Optimum Gloss Coat] does not need a fancy wheel cleaner). Then blow dry with the MB.


Old 10-15-2018, 10:44 AM
  #6  
911boy
Three Wheelin'
 
911boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,852
Received 137 Likes on 108 Posts
Default

I've never used/needed a wheel cleaner ....ever. If you wash at reasonable intervals wheels are simple to clean IMO. If you don't clean the barrels regularly you could end up with balance issues. Rain cleans brakes............
Old 10-15-2018, 06:05 PM
  #7  
3Series
Three Wheelin'
 
3Series's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,662
Likes: 0
Received 106 Likes on 80 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by kage65
Are rotors supposed to be cleaned at all? What about the inside of the wheel ( drums) ? Tks
Supposed to, no. It just depends on what level of clean you want. If you want really clean rotors, just replace them. At $100/rotor, you could change them out when rinsing with soap and water don't clean them to your standards anymore. Joking, but not really. It depends on your OCD for cleanliness. I'd rather replace rotors than try to clean them to perfection.
Old 10-15-2018, 07:30 PM
  #8  
subshooter
Rennlist Member
 
subshooter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Orleans, LA (NOLA)
Posts: 5,217
Received 2,249 Likes on 1,029 Posts
Default

OMG! Lex's wheels look like new....and I know how many miles he puts on his car too. Wow. I need to get busy.
Old 10-15-2018, 08:18 PM
  #9  
Al.Fresco
Three Wheelin'
 
Al.Fresco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 1,852
Received 332 Likes on 190 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by subshooter
OMG! Lex's wheels look like new....and I know how many miles he puts on his car too. Wow. I need to get busy.
Don't fall for it. He Photoshops those just like he does the pics of the WeatherTech girls!!!
Old 10-15-2018, 08:21 PM
  #10  
vodkag
Rennlist Member
 
vodkag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: So Cali
Posts: 633
Received 32 Likes on 25 Posts
Default

LMAO!

I usually wash the inside of the wheel and the brake caliper with just soap, probably every other time i wash the car.....
Old 10-15-2018, 09:28 PM
  #11  
DBH
Three Wheelin'
 
DBH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,872
Received 461 Likes on 312 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by vodkag

I usually wash the inside of the wheel and the brake caliper with just soap, probably every other time i wash the car.....
Same, except every time I wash the car. I use the soap bucket I've just washed the car with and an old wash mitt. Get in there, swish the mitt around, rinse with a hose. Takes a couple of minutes per wheel. I also wash down the tires and inside of wheel well as well while I'm down there. Oh, I don't do the rotors. Let the brake pads do that.
Old 10-15-2018, 09:31 PM
  #12  
LexVan
Banned
 
LexVan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicagoland Area
Posts: 26,141
Likes: 0
Received 5,410 Likes on 2,516 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Al.Fresco
Don't fall for it. He Photoshops those just like he does the pics of the WeatherTech girls!!!
If I only knew how to use photoshop, I would have rotated the crest to point towards the value stem.
Old 10-16-2018, 01:52 PM
  #13  
wforider
Advanced
 
wforider's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: woodland Ca.
Posts: 89
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Dam made me look...
Old 10-16-2018, 02:58 PM
  #14  
tgavem
Three Wheelin'
 
tgavem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,948
Received 197 Likes on 118 Posts
Default

Anybody use WD40 ?
Old 10-16-2018, 03:04 PM
  #15  
Guards_Red_991
Burning Brakes
 
Guards_Red_991's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PA
Posts: 1,091
Received 551 Likes on 256 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by tgavem
Anybody use WD40 ?
I use WD40 for a lot of things, just not on my brakes. Are you trying to avoid instant rust build up on the rotor's surface?

I wash my wheels, brakes and wheel wells at the end when I'm done washing and drying the car. Sometimes I do it the next day.



Quick Reply: Should Rotors be cleaned? Drums?



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 05:26 PM.